A well-kept garden can attract more potential buyers and add up to 20 percent to the value of a home – especially in cities.
But there are some “major gardening mistakes” that can “deter buyers” and actually “put them off” from making that all-important offer.
So what is it that buyers don’t want to see in your outside spaces? According to the property experts at Philip Mann, there are six mistakes that should be avoided.
1. Ornate water features
Eye-catching water features can look “impressive” but buyers know they can be expensive to maintain.
Even simple ponds can be looked upon as a “potential danger zone” by parents of small children.
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Instead, try to keep things simple and manageable. A simple bird bath will attract wildlife, it’s easy to install and little or no maintenance is required.
2. Poor maintenance
Selling a house is all about creating engaging first impressions so it’s important that the garden looks the part.
Broken gates and fences, cracked paving, unkempt beds and overgrown lawns can be a “turn-off for buyers” who think that this lack of TLC might have spread to the rest of the property.
Lawns need to be cut at least once a week, probably increasing to twice a week at the height of the growing season in July and August.
3. Invasive plants
When talking about invasive plants, this doesn’t just mean Japanese knotweed. Everybody knows the dangers of this invader – it can cause so much damage that some lenders refuse to offer mortgages where this pest is present.
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Climbers like ivy or wisteria can also cause problems by lifting roof tiles or damaging rendering on walls. Buyers may also be on the lookout for any plants that may be poisonous or harmful to pets or humans. These include laburnum, rhododendron and giant hogweed.
Shallow-rooted trees like willow can “cause damage to buildings” and need to be at least 20m away from any buildings. Their roots can spread over large distances and even neighbouring properties can be affected.
Mature oak trees need over 1000 litres of water a day and have a massive network of shallow roots. Oaks are believed to be the biggest single cause of subsidence in the UK.
4. Over-complicated planting
While having a well-kept garden is a definite positive for home sellers, they would do well to remember that not everyone is a green-fingered expert.
If a garden is jam-packed full of ornamental shrubs and exotic plants, it can be “seriously intimidating” for buyers who might prefer a rather simpler botanical life. The experts said: “The trick here is to keep it simple.”
5. Artificial grass
This garden feature is a bit of a “no-no” for many would-be buyers. It may be convenient and easy to maintain but for many people, it’s another problem that can only be solved by pulling it all up and laying a new lawn.
6. Broken or worn-out garden furniture
Whether it’s the chair that’s broken or the parasol that split, many have been guilty of leaving garden casualties on display.
But staging is everything when people are selling a house – you want viewers to imagine themselves living there. You may even feel inclined to sit them down in the garden while showing them around.
Make sure the furniture is sound and, if necessary, give it a fresh coat of paint or stain or a good old polish.
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